Khalifa Ould Eide & Dimi Mint Abba - 1990 - Moorish Music From Mauritania

This is the album that make discover the Moorish music of Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the western audience. This is also the debut recording of two of the finest musician of Muslim world: Dimi Mint Abba and Khalifa Ould Eide. Mauritania is at the crossroads of Africa and its musical repertoire has been formed over century of contact with a wide variety African and Arabic musical culture (Berber, Bambara, Tuareg, Arab, Sudanese, etc...) to produce in  Moorish music a passionate, expressive singing style over complex rythms. Moorish music has in turn influenced music of other countries; the impassioned singing and refined hand-clapping has been a powerful influence of Flamenco music. The highly evolved structure, governed by a specific musical theory, the instruments, its complex rhythms and expressive vocal tecniques are each uniquely Mauritanian. Moorish musicians are known as iggawin and their special knowledge of music is handed down through the generations, iggawin families acting as musical conservatories.  Both Dimi and Khalifa are from two respected centuries-old families ond the began to learn music since they were children. Also Dimi daughter becamed a very famous singer. Dimi special music gift was recognised very early, at the age of 16 she debuted on national radio, at the age of 17 she represent her country to Oum Khultum festival in Tunisia. Khalifa decided to leave the school at the age of 12 to sing his father songs. Both Dimi and Khalifa are part of group of musician located in the capital city of Nouakachott, who are introducing new instruments like electric guitar and oud in Moorish music. 

TRACKLIST

1 Waidalal Waidalal

Composed By – Ely Ould Eide

2 Yar Allahoo

Composed By – Dimi

Lyrics By – Unknown Poet

3 Hassaniya Song For Dancing (Lebleyda Wigsar)

Composed By – Dimi

Lyrics By – Unknown Poet

4 Hassaniya Love Poem (Wana Laily Ya Allah)

Composed By – Khalifa

Lyrics By – Unknown Poet

5 The Tortoise's Song (Ishteeb Laggatri)

Lyrics By – Unknown Poet

6 Independence (Yar Moritani Alek Mubarak Listiqlal) 6:18

7 Art's Plume (Sawt Elfan)

Adapted By – Dimi, Khalifa

Composed By – Seymali Ould Hamad Vall

Lyrics By – Ahmedou Ould Abdel Qader

8 Oh Lord Bring Apartheid Crashing Down!

Words By – Seidoum Ould Sidati Ould Abba

9 Mauritania My Beloved Country (Nikhtar An Kulelawtan Awtani Mauritan)

Composed By – Khalifa

10 My Young People Do The Youth Of Nations Invite (Ashabab Yidie Shabab Aldual)

Composed By – Dimi

Words By – Mohamed Ould Sidi Baba

11 Autoot

Composed By – Sidati Well Abba

Credits:

Artwork By [Design And Artwork] – Impetus

Backing Vocals, Tambourine, Drums [T'bal], Handclaps – Fairuz Mint Seymali, Garmi Mint Abba

Design, Artwork – Impetus (2)

Electric Guitar – Khalifa Ould Eide (tracce: 7-11)

Other [Song Transcriptions] – Dustin Cowell, Sheikh Ould Bekaye

Photography [Back Cover & Booklet] – Jak Kilby

Photography [Booklet] – Lance Williamson]

Photography [Front Cover & Booklet], Other [Interviews Used For Sleeve Notes] – Diana Stone

Producer, Liner Notes [Sleeve Notes From Interviews] – Nick Gold

Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By, Remastered By [Digital Post Production] – John Hadden

Recorded By, Mixed By – John Hadden

Vocals, Kora [Ardin], Handclaps, Written-By, Adapted By – Dimi Mint Abba

Vocals, Written-By, Adapted By – Khalifa Ould Eide

Xalam [Tidinit] – Khalifa Ould Eide